ence, ii. 186). The Minerva sailed on 24 Aug., and on 14 Jan. 1800 Holt, accompanied by his wife and family, landed at Sydney. He was allowed to remove to Parramatta, and on 1 Feb. he settled down at Brush farm as farm bailiff to Captain Cox. The prominent part he had played in the Irish rebellion necessarily rendered him an object of suspicion to the government of New South Wales, and though nothing seems to have been further from his thoughts, he was more than once arrested on a charge of attempting to overthrow the government. Among those who knew him, however, his character was excellent. His farming operations prospered, and he was soon in a position to acquire land on his own account. In March 1804 the peace of the colony was seriously disturbed by an Irish insurrection. Suspicion fell on Holt. He was arrested, and though his innocence was past all reasonable doubt, he was banished to Norfolk Island. The island was shortly afterwards abandoned as a convict settlement, and Holt was allowed to return to New South Wales. Shortly after his return he was convicted of illicit distilling, but the offence was considered a venial one, and he was admitted to bail on promising, in accordance with the law, not to distil for a year. During the political revolution of 1809 Holt obtained his pardon and a grant of land from Governor Paterson. On the restoration of order both were confirmed to him by Governor Macquarie, and on 1 Jan. 1811 he received a free pardon. He was now in easy circumstances. His farm prospered. His eldest son, Joshua, had married and settled down on his own farm. But Holt resolved to revisit Ireland, and, having sold his land and stock, embarked with his wife and youngest son for England on 1 Dec. 1812.
Misfortune still dogged his path. On 8 Feb. 1813 the ship in which he sailed was totally wrecked on Eagle Island, one of the Falkland group. The calamity called forth all Holt’s best qualities. He built cabins for the shelter of the shipwrecked passengers; he instituted hunting and fishing parties, and provided provisions for the future. In April the Nannina, an American vessel, arrived at Eagle Island. The commander, a United Irishman, and well acquainted with the exploits of ‘General Holt,’ showed much kindness to the castaways, offering, notwithstanding the war between England and America, to convey them to a port of safety. Meanwhile, however, an English cruiser appeared on the scene, and, having captured the Nannina, sent her as a prize to Rio Janeiro. At Rio Janeiro Holt exerted himself successfully to obtain the liberation of the Americans belonging to the Nannina. On 23 Oct. 1813 he embarked on the Venerable brig, and landed at Liverpool on 22 Feb. 1814. On 5 April he arrived in Dublin, and having presented his letters of freedom to Major Sirr, he set up business in the metropolis as a publican. After losing considerably in the business, he disposed of it and retired to Kingstown. There he lived for the remainder of his days upon the rent of a few houses he built there, never ceasing to regret his folly in leaving New South Wales. He died on 16 May 1826. After his death his youngest son joined his brother in Australia.
An engraved portrait of Holt, taken from a picture painted in 1798, and some time in the possession of Sir William Betham, is prefixed to his autobiography (edited by Crofton Croker). He was five feet ten inches in height, well built, of a dark complexion, and of great physical strength. He possessed great natural ability, and considerable aptitude for military affairs, and was probably the most skilful, as he was certainly one of the bravest and most humane, leaders on the rebel side during the rebellion of 1798. He was moved by resentment for private wrongs, and he showed no interest in the political questions at issue. His history was long afterwards kept alive in the memory of the peasants of Wicklow by various popular songs, especially one entitled ‘The Victim of Tyranny.’
[Holt’s autobiography was admirably edited by Crofton Croker, London, 1838. Written in 1818 at his dictation, from notes made by him during his life, it is truthful on the whole, though Holt often exaggerates his own importance, and glosses over some episodes. See also Lecky’s Hist. viii. 236 sq.]
HOLT, THOMAS (1578?–1624), architect, a native of York, born about 1578, is noteworthy for the important works in Renaissance architecture executed by him at Oxford. In 1613 and the following years he designed the great quadrangle of the examination schools there, now part of the Bodleian Library, introducing some new architectural features. He also designed the whole structure of Wadham College, which was built between 1610 and 1613. Other buildings at Oxford are ascribed to him with less certainty, though he probably prepared designs for many of them. Holt is registered as a privileged person in the university, aged 40, on 30 Oct. 1618; he is described as ‘Faberlignarius Coll. Novi.’ He died on 9 Sept. 1624, and was buried in the churchyard of Holywell Church, Oxford, where a monument was erected in his memory. His daughter married Dr. Samuel Radcliffe, principal of Brasenose College.
